As adorable and innocent-looking as kittens are, they require a lot of patience and nurturing to ensure they don't bite or scratch you while playing. This is inevitable because many pet owners must still learn their cat's temperament and when they have had enough play. They will also be teething, which can become irritating and putting something in their mouth is the only way to scratch that itch. Training a cat to stop these behaviours is important at an early age, and with the following tips you can ensure your kitten grows up to be a good-natured cat:

Every time your kitten comes to you to play, pet him or her so long as they are comfortable with it, and no longer. If they are sensitive in an area, their claws and teeth will be out in no time, because they have no other way of communicating when they don't want something.

Cats are born hunters, and they will never lose this trait. Give them a toy that they are allowed to bite, so every time they come to you with an aggressive look in their eye, you can pass them that toy.

As cute as it is when they bite your clothes, do not let kittens do this as they will reach a point where they do not differentiate between biting your jeans and biting your leg. A clap with a firm "NO" should be used every time they do this.

Never hit, shout or lose your temper with your cat, as they will become confused and nervous, which will lead to them avoiding you completely. Instead, try using a water spray and use it every time they want to hurt you.

A friendly cat will generally understand a "time-out". If bad behaviour persists, leave the cat alone for 10-15 minutes so they know that biting and scratching doesn't mean more playtime.

These tips combined will help your cat become more well-mannered and docile. Kittens must learn from an early age that these behaviours are not acceptable and that they can be dangerous to both people and other cats.

For people immigrating to Australia there are some strict quarantine laws for pets. Usual regulations dictate that upon arrival to Australia, pets must be placed in quarantine for up to 30 days. Quarantine can be financially taxing and may even cause pets to suffer from separation anxiety. The Department of Agriculture (DAFF) has recently announced changes to the import policy of pets much to the benefit of pet owners.

A major amendment to the regulations is that some pets may only need to stay in quarantine for a minimum of 10 days. Animals may not be required to stay for the original 30 days (as long as they abide by and fulfill the import policy rules and requirements). For a pet to be potentially eligible for a reduced quarantine period, one of the main conditions is that that they undergo and pass a Blood Titer Test (RNATT) between 6 to 24 months before their entry to Australia. This change is no doubt a relief for many pet owners as quarantine can cost upwards of $29 (per cat) and $39 (per dog). For example, if your cat was in quarantine for the original 30 days you'd have to pay $870! With these beneficial changes, you may only have to pay $290. However, you must still pay all quarantine costs up front and if there any additional charges (i.e. if your pet has to stay longer than the minimum requirement duration) you would need to pay a second installment.

There is also a noticeable modification to regulations for pets originating from non DAFF approved countries. Under the old policy, pets were required to stay in a DAFF approved country for at least six months before they can be brought to Australia. The new rules allow pets to enter Australia from a DAFF approved country as long as they meet the requirements to enter that particular country. Meaning that as soon as your pet is granted eligibility to enter a DAFF approved country, you can immediately apply for your pet to be granted permission to come to Australia from that particular country. No more will your beloved pet be forced to spend 6 months in a foreign country before you can apply for permission to bring them into Australia!

Some rules have remained such as the requirement of an Import Permit, 15 digit microchip for your pet and veterinary health certificates. Vaccinations (i.e. rabies) and various blood tests are still mandatory.

Pet owners can apply for the new Import Permit from December 2, 2013, but the updated Import Policy will only take effect from February 3, 2014. If you intend to bring in your pet to Australia before this date, then you would need to apply for an Import Permit under the old conditions.